Study addresses Paradise School's future
A number of coordinated studies are now underway to explore various scenarios for preserving and repurposing the Paradise Elementary School. The century-old, red brick structure and adjoining gym closed in 2013 due to insufficient enrollment. The school trustees have until June 2016 to decide on the building’s future.
The Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee, assisted by Sanders County Community Development Corporation are the recipients of a grant from the Montana Department of Commerce. The grant will fund a coordinated feasibility studies by three expert teams. The primary investigation is being undertaken by a three-person team from Missoula: Philip Maechling, who served for more than a decade as Missoula’s Historic Preservation Officer; Steve Adler, an architect specializing in historic projects; and Bob Oaks, executive director of the North Missoula Community Development Corporation.
A student-faculty design team from MSU’s Community Design Center, a program of the architecture school, is assisting the Missoula consultants. The design outreach program is supervised by architect Professor Thomas McNab and provides professional services to Montana communities while giving architectural students valuable practical experience.
A student-faculty team from the University of Montana’s School of Business Administration will also be assisting the school repurposing investigation. Supervised by business school professor Bambi Douma, undergraduate juniors and seniors will work as a team to address business management issues raised during the school study.
Numerous Paradise-area residents, along with the Paradise Improvement Association, have donated toward match dollars required by the CDBG grant. The feasibility study will be finalized in June.
The Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, at the Paradise United Methodist Church, 400 North Ave. All interested parties are welcome to join the conversation. For more information contact Jen Kreiner, SCCDC at 827-6935 or John Thorson at 826-0500.